According to Boomer Health & Lifestyle, lung cancer risk is higher for those who start smoking early in their life. According to Dr. Otis Brawley, individuals who start smoking at an early age have an increased chance of developing lung cancer later in life. The Chief Medical Officer at the American Cancer Society said that the risk increases particularly in a person’s mid to late 50s and peaks in their late 70s. The number of cigarettes smoked daily and number of years a person spends smoking also add to the risk.

According to the doctor, one third of heavy smokers develop lung cancer. Research has shown that 15 to 20 out of every 100 patients diagnosed with lung cancer have had the bad habit most of their lives. Second hand smoke has lead to some of the diagnosis, while for some the cause is unknown.

Brawley cautions that smoking causes other health issues and not just lung cancer. The bad habit is known to cause 14 different cancers, including those of the head, neck, stomach, kidney, esophagus, pancreas, and bladder. It may also be linked to leukemia, ulcers, high blood pressure, diabetes, bronchitis, emphysema, osteoporosis and reproductive disorders.

A recent study has found that smokers of mentholated cigarettes are no more likely to develop lung cancer than other smokers. In fact, menthol smokers had a lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study published in the journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study found that mentholated cigarette smokers were about 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer, while non-menthol smokers had a 21 times the risk of developing the disease.